Rockford IceHogs outskate the Griffins in G.R. to tie playoff series, 1-1

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Griffins got off to a good start Wednesday night in Game 2 of their American Hockey League playoff series against the Rockford IceHogs, with a goal about halfway through the first frame.

But it was the IceHogs who skated away with a 5-1 road win in Grand Rapids to knot the AHL Central Division semifinal series at one game apiece.

A crowd of 5,799 fans attended the game.

Rockford goalie Drew Commesso made a quick toe save on a slap shot by Carter Mazur from the right point, and Austin Czarnik was right on the doorstep to score the game's first goal with 9:08 to go in the first period. Jonatan Berggren also got an assist on the play.

But the wheels - or skates - started to come off after that, as the Griffins' outstanding rookie goaltender, Sebastian Cossa, allowed a couple soft goals. Rockford was fast on its skates and Grand Rapids seemed out of sync for most of the game, going long stretches to start the 2nd and 3rd periods without registering a shot on goal

The IceHogs' Ethan Del Mastro scored less than a minute after Czarnik's goal, with a wrist shot at 8:13 left in the opening period. That was on a 50-foot shot that went over Sebastian Cossa's blocker to tie the game, 1-1. Lukas Reichal had the assist on the goal.

And the Griffins later paid for a penalty, allowing a goal with one second left in that first period by Rockford left wing Mike Hardman, while the Griffins' Dominik Shine was in the sin bin for a tripping penalty. It was a tip-in of a one-timer by Wyatt Kaiser. Rem Pitlick got the other assist.

The shots on goal were nine apiece after the opening period, but the Griffins went about 12 minutes into the second stanza without getting off a single shot on goal.

Barely more than a minute into the second period, the IceHogs scored to make it 3-1 at the 18:55 mark. Michal Teply - on a 3-on-1 - beat Sebastian Cossa on an assist from Isaak Phillips. A note made by 96.1 The Game/WOOD Radio at the time:

"Cossa not looking sharp tonight, and the Griffins' skating is sluggish."

The Griffins started to wake up with about seven minutes left in the second period, getting some quality shots on net. Then, Rockford center Rem Pitlik was called for a high-sticking penalty at the 7:52 mark, but the Griffins were unable to capitalize. Grand Rapids was 0-for-2 on the power play with about four minutes left in the 2nd period.

A powerful check by Grand Rapids' Taro Hirose of Wyatt Kaiser into the Rockford end boards brought the crowd to its feet with two minutes left in the 2nd period. Cossa made a couple of nifty saves in goal to keep Grand Rapids in the game. A hooking penalty at the 19:03 mark on Michal Teply gave the Griffins their third power play of the game. It carried over into the 3rd period with 1:04 remaining on it, as the 2nd period ended with Rockford leading, 3-1. It's difficult to fathom after Grand Rapids failed to get a shot off for the first seven minutes of the period, but the Griffins led in shots on goal through two periods, 18-17. Both teams wound up with eight shots on goal in the second period.

Commesso made a couple of saves for the IceHogs on point-blank shots by the Griffins late in the second period.

The Griffins were unable to convert on the power play to start the 3rd period. As in the 2nd period, Grand Rapids failed to muster a shot on goal the first several (eight) minutes of the final period. Just a few minutes into that 3rd period, the IceHogs scored, as left wing Mike Hardman tipped in an errant shot from just inside the blue line. It was only 4:17 into the final frame.

It was Hardman's second goal of the game. Filip Roos and Luke Philp got the assists. Rockford now led, 4-1.

Midway through the final frame, the crowd began chanting a vulgar statement directed toward the referees after a Griffins' player went down hard on the ice. They wanted a tripping penalty to be called, and none was forthcoming.

At that point, with 9:47 left in the game, the Griffins led in shots on goal in the contest, 23-18, but trailed where it mattered on the scoreboard, 4-1. At one point, Grand Rapids built a 27-19 lead in shots.

The Griffins fans continued to take out their frustration on the officials, after Carter Mazur was called for an inadvertent tripping near the IceHogs' net. He also was called for a 10-minute misconduct penalty after giving the ref an earful. With 4:26 left in the game, the misconduct didn't affect the game. The tripping penalty, though, gave Rockford its second power play opportunity, and Luke Philp made no mistake, scoring just :22 seconds later to make the final score of the game, 5-1. Hardman and Pitlick got the assists.

It was no consolation, but Grand Rapids finished with more shots on goal for the game, 28-25. As mentioned, the series is now tied, 1-1, with the pivotal Game 3 looming.

The three stars of the game were:

1. RFD - M. Hardman

2. RFD - D. Commesso

3. RFD - L. Philp

The two teams will meet for the third game of the playoff series on Friday night, at 7, at Van Andel Arena. The road team has won each game of the series, so far.

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The Griffins won the first game of the series at a nearly sold-out arena in Rockford, IL., on April 27, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game in the 3rd period. Dominik Shine and Amadeus Lombardi lit the lamp. In overtime, Jonatan Berggren scored the game-winning goal. The Griffins had outshot the IceHogs in that first game, 34-22, in regulation, and 3-0 in O.T.

Per the Griffins' media, Dan Watson became the seventh Grand Rapids head coach to win their first postseason game behind the Griffins' bench. And Sebastian Cossa was the fifth rookie goalie to start a playoff game. The others were: Jared Coreau (2015), Petr Mrazek (2013), Jimmy Howard (2006) and Mathieu Chouinard (2001).

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Post-Game NOTES:

The four-goal scoring difference tied for the largest margin of defeat ever for the Griffins during a home playoff game, dating back to 1996. The last time the Griffins lost by four goals at Van Andel Arena in the postseason was in 2018 to Manitoba. It was also the most goals given up by goalie Sebastian Cossa in several months.

Game 3 of the best-of-five playoff series will be Friday night in Grand Rapids, at 7 o'clock. The pre-game talk-up will begin at 6:45 on 96.1 The Game. Game 4 will be Sunday at 5 p.m. (EDT) in Rockford, Ill. If necessary, Game 5 will be played in Grand Rapids on May 10, at 7 p.m.